Country Dance*New York's Last Contra Dance of the Summer Set for 7/21

By: Jul. 17, 2012
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Country Dance*New York will present a contra dance on Saturday, July 21, 2012 from 8:00pm to 10:45pm at the Chinatown YMCA's Houston Street Center (273 Bowery, near Houston Street, Manhattan). Contra dancing is having a renaissance around the country, thanks to a thriving youth scene; high energy, joyful, acoustic music; and fast-paced, aerobic dancing. There is plenty of swinging your partner and lots of fun, flirting and eye contact. Some men wear kilts or skirts. Women dance with men, men dance with men, and women dance with women.

No previous experience is required. From 7:30pm to 8:00pm there is a beginner's workshop, and the caller walks everyone through the patterns of each dance.

Dynamic live music will be provided by the upbeat New York-based dance band,The Thistle Biscuits. The Thistle Biscuits band plays high-energy contra dance music, combining Cape Breton Scottish influences with jazzy rhythms and the drive of old-time Southern tunes. The band is comprised of Jody Kruskal (Anglo concertina, percussion), Bill Christophersen (fiddle), Bob Jones (bass), and Neil Pearlman (piano). Their enthusiastic music-making reveals deep respect for tradition enlivened by creative improvisation and a bit of playful irreverence. The highly regarded caller Warren Doyle, known for his enthusiastic and clear teaching, will lead the proceedings.

Contra dancing started in New England in the 1700s, but the modern version is a far cry from the Virginia Reel-type dancing done in schools years ago. The current dancing is done in long lines of dancers facing their partners and moving briskly in patterns to live music, sometimes changing partners.

General Information: Admission is $15 general public, and $12 for full-time students. First-timers get a free pass to use to come another time. Those interested can call The Dancephone at 212.459.4080 or visit the Country Dance*New York website, www.cdny.org for more information. Attendees are asked to bring a separate pair of clean, soft-bottomed shoes for dancing.

Traveling to 273 Bowery (and Houston Street) via subway: Take the 6 train to Bleecker Street stop, the F train to Second Avenue stop, or the B or D train to Broadway and Lafayette Street.

Photo credit: Anne Scher



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